Round baler accumulation area of width greater than bale chamber

Abstract

A continuous baling method comprising conveying crop material on a rotating conveyor toward a baler while the baler is traversing a field, the conveyor comprising a conveying surface having an entire crop material-carrying width of a first distance; narrowing the flow of the crop material to transition the crop material flow from the conveyor to the baler; and receiving the narrowed flow at an inlet to a baling chamber of the baler, the inlet comprising a width having a second distance smaller than the first distance.

At least the following is claimed:  
     
       1. A continuous baling system, comprising:
 an accumulation frame comprising longitudinal first and second side walls; 
 a pickup mechanism configured to pick up crop material as the continuous baling system traverses a field; 
 a first conveyor rotatably coupled to the accumulation frame extending from a first end adjacent the pickup mechanism to a second end and disposed between the first and second side walls, the conveyor comprising a conveying surface moveable from front to back for conveying crop material deposited on the first conveyor by the pickup mechanism; 
 a screed positioned adjacent the second end of the first conveyor comprising a rotatable second conveyor, the screed configured to be movable between a raised position and a lowered position relative to the first conveyor; and 
 a baler coupled to, and adjacent to, the accumulation frame, the baler comprising a bale chamber for bale formation, the bale chamber comprising plural side walls, 
 wherein when the screed is in the raised position, a gap is formed between the screed and the first conveyor so that crop material conveyed by the first conveyor passes through the gap between the screed and the first conveyor and into the bale chamber, and when the screed is in the lowered position, the screed closes the gap thereby obstructing the conveyed crop material to the baler so that crop material conveyed by the first conveyor remains on the first conveyor and does not enter the bale chamber while the baler is traversing a field; and 
 wherein the accumulation frame comprises a first width defined by a first distance transverse to the direction of movement of the conveying surface and starting from the first side wall and ending at the second side wall, and wherein the bale chamber comprises a second width defined by a second distance between the plural side walls, the first distance greater than the second distance. 
 
     
     
       2. The continuous baling system of  claim 1 , further comprising an active narrowing sub-system disposed proximal to an inlet to the bale chamber and the conveying surface. 
     
     
       3. The continuous baling system of  claim 2 , wherein the active narrowing sub-system comprises one or more augers coupled to a shaft of a rotatable feeding rotor of the baler. 
     
     
       4. The continuous baling system of  claim 2 , wherein the active narrowing sub-system comprises plural stub augers rotatably coupled to the respective first and second side walls. 
     
     
       5. The continuous baling system of  claim 4 , wherein the plural stub augers are located proximal to a screed coupled to the accumulation frame. 
     
     
       6. The continuous baling system of  claim 1 , further comprising a passive narrowing sub-system disposed proximal to an inlet to the bale chamber and adjacent the conveying surface. 
     
     
       7. The continuous baling system of  claim 6 , wherein the passive narrowing sub-system comprises plural wedges coupled to the respective first and second side walls. 
     
     
       8. The continuous baling system of  claim 7 , wherein plural wedges are located proximal to a screed coupled to the accumulation frame. 
     
     
       9. The continuous baling system of  claim 1 , wherein the first distance is approximately two feet greater than the second distance.